Replaceable contact for multiple connector



April 5, 1966 A. F. D'AMICO REPLACEABLE CONTACT FOR MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 25, 1963 mm Q am W Q E m mm mm \w @ms INN wmw mu WM w h hN mm H l WLwm ww\ 5', l INVENTQR Ll Anfhony F. 0 Ammo lwwwk V 4 H /n mm & mm m% Q ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,245,030 REPLACEABLE CONTACT FOR MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Anthony F. DAmico, P.0. Box 13232, Dallas, Tex. Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 318,997 Claims. (Cl. 339217) This invention has to do with a removable contact for multiple contact connectors, and is particularly concerned with an improvement in a snap-in type of contact for multiple outlet connectors employing a collet type spring retainer member for removably mounting the contact in the bore of the body of a connector plug so as to firmly but removably mount the contact in the bore in position so that it cannot be removed therefrom without the employment of an insertion tool to retract the retainer memher.

This improved contact mounting means makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the bore and the length of the bore in which the contact is mounted, thus making it possible to reduce the overall size of the body in which the multiple connectors are mounted.

This invention is concerned with an improvement in the type of contact and retainer means therefor disclosed in my Patent No. 3,075,169, issued January 22, 1963, entitled Snap-In Contact for Mutiple Connectors.

The connector and retainer assembly shown in said patent require that the retainer member be disposed about a reduced mid-section of the contact member requiring excessive length of contact member to accommodate the retainer member; the spring prongs on the retainer memher were turned outwardly and had a shoulder thereon engageable with a shoulder in the counterbore in the connector body which increased the overall diameter of the retainer member, and since sufficient annular space had to be provided between the outside diameter of the outwardly turned prongs to accommodate an insertion tool to retract same, the overall diameter to the bore in which the contact member and retainer member were inserted was required to be unduly large for many applications.

Miniaturization of circuits and circuit components has become increasingly important in computer technology and electronics components employed in quidance and control equipment for rockets, so that it is an impelling requirement that circuit components, and the like, and particularly contact members mounted in contact blocks containing many circuit connections, be reduced in size to a minimum.

It is equally important that the contacts be mounted in such a way that they can be quickly replaced or interchanged without damage to the contact or the retainer member therefor, and that when mounted in the bore therefor the contacts are securely held in place therein against pulling forces of excessive magnitude to assure that vital circuits will not be interrupted to cause failure of critical electronics and electrical components in computers and guidance elements used in rockets, missiles, and other equipment.

Thepresent invention is primarily intended to provide a connector and retainer combination to meet the foregoing requirements.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a removable connector member for multiple connectors which occupies a minimum amount of space in the bore therefor, reducing the overall length and diameter of the bore, thereby reducing the overall size of the block or body in which the connectors are mounted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring retainer member for a multiple con nector which securely mounts the connector in the bore 3,245,030 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 therefor, yet is easy and simple to mount therein and to demount therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of connector and retainer members wherein the outer ends of the prongs on the retainer member are turned inwardly and are abutted against shoulders on the connector and in the bore in such position that the inwardly turned portions of the prongs are firmly gripped between the shoulders and held against lateral or longitudinal movement when axial force is exerted against the connector.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following, and by referring to the drawing annexed hereto.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawing, wherein:

FIGURE I is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a bore through a contact block, showing a contact and retainer assembly made in accordance with the improvement comprehended by this invention, as it would appear while being inserted into the bore from the terminal end thereof;

FIGURE II is a view similar to FIGURE I wherein the contact has been inserted into the bore and the prongs on the retainer member have sprung out into engagement with the shoulder in the bore, to disengageably mount the contact in the bore;

FIGURE III is a perspective view of the retainer member employed to disengageably secure the contact within the bore;

FIGURE IV is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE V is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional, elevational view of the bore and retainer member, showing the relationship of the ends of the prongs of the retainer member with reference to the locking shoulders on the contact member and in the bore.

Numeral references are employed to indicate the various parts shown in the drawings, and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates a contact block plug or body made of insulating material, having a bore 2 therethrough. It will be understood that the contact block body 1 customarily has a great number of such bores 2 therethrough in each of which may be mounted a contact and retainer combination, as will be hereinafter described.

The .bore 2 includes a reduce diameter portion 5, with counterbores 3 and 4 at each end thereof.

The counterbore 3 provides a shoulder 6 which has an area at the outer side thereof which is disposed diagonally with reference to the axis of the bore, and an area 7 on the inner side thereof, which is disposed in right angular relationship to the axis of the bore.

The counter-bore 4 provides a tapered shoulder 8 for the purpose which will be hereinafter mentioned.

The contact member, which is generally indicated at 9, is made of electrical conductive material, and includes a hollow conductor engaging end 10 having a bore 11 therein to receive the end of a conductor 12. The conductor 12 may be secured in the bore 11 by application of solder through the hole 13, or it could be crimped therein, or otherwise securely mounted within the bore 11.

The insulation is removed from the outer end of the conductor 12, as indicated at 12a, so that solder applied through hole 13 will provide an electrical connection between the conductor and contact '9.

The terminal end 10 includes an annular area 14 of greater diameter than the conductor engaging portion 10, which provides a shoulder 14a arranged to come into engagement with shoulder 8, to limit the inward movement of the contact within the bore 2 for the purpose which will be hereinafter described.

Adjacent the shoulder p ortion 14 is another cylindrical portion'15 which is-lesserin diameter than the cylindrical portion 14, and is of such outside diameter as to pass through the reduced diameter bore 5, and provides a shoulder 9a for-the purpose "hereinafter mentioned.

The contact member 9 also includes areceptacle end 16 which is made integral with'the terminal end 10 and is joinedthereto by areduced diameterportion-2l.

A bore 17 is provided in the-receptacleend 16, which is arranged to receivea-prod conductor 35. The prod conductor 35 would'be secured to'an electrical conductor or would be one of a plurality of such prods extending outwardly from a conductor block which would provide a connection between theconta'cts in the block 1 and electrical conductors secured to such-Prods.

The receptacle 16 includes a spring segment :20 which is deflected inwardly in :order to .gr'ippinglyengage the male prod 35 when inserted therein, the said spring segment 20 being-formed .by aligned llongitudinalislits .18 and diagonally disposed slits r19 cut through the wall of the receptacle 16.

An enlarged diameterarea-22 is provided-on the outer end ofthe receptacle portion 16 of the contact 9, which provides a shoulder 22a for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

eter-portion 26 which functions inthe manner hereinafter described.

The retainer member 27 is made of spring-like metallic material, :'-is hollow, and has'the generallycylindrical reduoed diameter end 28 from which extends outwardly tapered .iprongs .31. The ,prongs 31 are formedby slits 30 extending from, the cylindricalportion 28 to the outer ends thereof. T he prongs 31 are terminated at their outer ends by, inwardly extending generally right angular portions 32 ,and longitudinally formed terminal portions 33, which are-generally parallel-to the longitudinal-axis of the retainer member.

A relatively wide longitudinal slit 2,9 is providedto extend the full length of the-retainer 27.

When the contact and retainer assembly is positioned in the bore,xas.shoWn-inFIGURE II, a stand-off space 34 .is provided between the end of; the cylindrical portion 28 of the retainer 27 and the shoulder 22a for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

The operation and function of. thedevice hereinbefore described is as follows:

The contact 9 issecured-to-the conductor 12 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The retainer 27. is placed about the contact 9 by placing the slit 29 thereagainst and forcing itthereover by springing the sides thereof outwardly and allowing it to contract thereabout.

In such position, the outer ends of the prongs 31 will abut against the shoulder 9a and the reduced cylindrical portion 28 thereof will be disposed about the cylindrical area 23. The contact is then inserted into the "counterbore .4 .and the outersurfaces of the prongs '31 slidealong the inner surface of the bore 4 until they reach the shoulder .8, at which time said prongs are contracted by being forced against the shoulderB and are retracted for passage through thereduced diameter bore 5.

Upon the inwardly turned portions 32 of the prongs 31 reaching the enlarged bore 3, the prongs 31 relax and spring outwardly so that the inwardly turnedshoulder portions .32 engage the shoulder 6 and the right angular portion 7 thereof. At such time the inner surfaces of the longitudinally turned ends 33 of the prongs will engage the outer surface of the cylindrical area 26 and the shoulder 25a will engage the upper surface of the inwardly turned portion 32, when longitudinally directed force is applied-outwardly againstthe terminal end 10.

Since the inwardlydirected portions 32 of prongs 31 are seated against right angular shoulders 7, any force exerted insuchdirect'ion is a longitudinally directed force parallel to 'the axis of the;b0re, so that there is no tendency for such force to expand the bore, crack the body, or ,shear the shoulder 7. Moreover, the inwardlydirected ends of the prongs are clamped and fixedly secured between the ;.di ameter portion 26 and the inner wall of the here, so that the prongs cannot move inwardly or be deformed ondistorted to suchan extent as to allow the contactg-9 to passtherethr ough. v

Sufficient standoff space 34-is provided between the .endof the 'retaining-rnember 27 and the shoulder 22a so that force is applied through the shoulder 25a and shoulder 7 to the inwardly turned ends 22 of the prongs to firmly clamp same in place instead of allowing the force to be absorbed sbetweenthe upperend ofthe retaining member and shoulder 22 a,.th'ereby assuring that the inwardly turned ends ,of the prongs are firmly clamped between said shoulders and against lateral movement.

By virtue of the fact that the retainer member is disposed about the female contact end of the contact 9 when latched in place in the bore, and does-not require a reduced diametrical portion of the contact in which to latch, and byfurther virtue of the fact that the locking ends of the prongs of the retainer memberfare turned inwardly and are not .requiredto be turned outwardly to lockfthe contact in place, the, overall dimension of the block 1 may be made considerably smallerin that thebores 2 may be madeshorter and dflless diameter.

.Furthermorqvthe contacts) can be made of smaller diameter, thusgreatly conserving space and allowing a greater number of circuit components.and contacts to be accommodated within a given area.

When it is desired to remove the contact-9 from the bore ,2, a removal tool (not shown) may be inserted through the bore 3, Said removal tool comprises a tubular member which passes over the female receptacle 16 and when forced downwardly over the outwardly tapered prongs 31 retract ,sarneinwardly sufficiently that the prongs .willenter the reduceddiameter portion 5 to thereby allow the contact tobe withdrawn through the bore ,4.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of theinvention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having'described my invention, I claim:

1. .In a device of the class described,

a connector plug body having abore therethrough including a main bore with a counterbore at .each end, said counterbores providing annular outwardly facing shoulders .at each end of the main bore; an electrical contact insertable in said bore, 7

having conduct-or connection ends thereon arrangedto receive electrical conductors, and a reduced midportion;

first shoulder means on the outer end of one of the conductor connection ends;

second shoulder means onv the contact adjacent thereduced midportion facing the firstshoulder means;

thirdshouldermeans on the contact spaced from, and

facing, thesecond shoulder means;

a retainer member constituting a split sleeve extending about the contact between the first shoulder means and the second shoulder means and about the third shoulder means;

a plurality of longitudinal slits in said sleeve providing outwardly tapered spring prongs thereon;

inwardly extending flanges on the outer ends of the prongs,

each flange including a portion extending substantially right angularly with reference to the axis of the bore, the said flanges being arranged to contact one of the shoulders in the bore, with the inner surfaces thereof engaged by the third shoulder means on the contact. 2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the one shoulder in the bore which contacts the flanges has a surface lying in a plane normal to the axis of the bore arranged to receive the right angular portions on the ends of the prongs. 3. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of a diameter portion on the contact adjacent the third shoulder which is less in diameter than the third shoulder and greater in diameter than the reduced midportion; the inner ends of the flanges on the prongs being arranged 6 to contact said diameter portion to limit the in ward movement of the prongs. 4. The combination called for in claim 3 wherein the ends of the flanges are terminated by portions turned parallel to the axis of the bore. 5. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the spacing between the first and third shoulders on the contact and the said one shoulder in the bore with relation to the length of the retainer is such that when the right angular portions of the flanges on the prongs are engaged by said one shoulder and said third shoulder,

a space is provided between the outer end of the retainer and the first shoulder on the contact.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A CONNECTOR PLUG BODY HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH INCLUDING A MAIN BORE WITH A COUNTERBORE AT EACH END, SAID COUNTERBORE PROVIDING ANNULAR OUTWARDLY FACING SHOULDERS AT EACH END OF THE MAIN BORE; AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT INSERTABLE IN SAID BORE, HAVING CONDUCTOR CONNECTION ENDS THEREON ARRANGED TO RECEIVE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, AND A REDUCED MIDPORTION; FIRST SHOUDLER MEANS ON THE OUTER END OF ONE OF THE CONDUCTOR CONNECTION ENDS; SECOND SHOULDER MEANS ON THE CONTACT ADJACENT THE REDUCED MIDPORTION FACING THE FIRST SHOULDER MEANS; THIRD SHOULDER MEANS ON THE CONTACT SPACED FROM, AND FACING, THE SECOND SHOUDLER MEANS; A RETAINER MEMBER CONSTITUTING A SPLIT SLEEVE EXTENDING ABOUT THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE FIRST SHOULDER MEANS AND THE SECOND SHOULDER MEANS AND ABOUT THE THIRD SHOULDER MEANS; A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL SLITS IN SAID SLEEVE PROVIDING OUTWARDLY TAPERED SPRING PRONGS THEREON; INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ON THE OUTER ENDS OF THE PRONGS, EACH FLANGE INCLUDING A PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULARLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE AXIS OF THE BORE, THE SAID FLANGES BEING ARRANGED CONTACT ONE OF THE SHOULDERS IN THE BORE, WITH THE INNER SURFACES THEREOF ENGAGED BY THE THIRD SHOULDER MEANS ON THE CONTACT. 